SkyDrive Changes + 25 GB Storage for Current Users

New storage options and apps to connect your devices to SkyDrive were announced by the Building Windows 8 blog.  The announcement provides information on the following.

New Features

• "SkyDrive for the Windows desktop (preview available now). View and manage your personal SkyDrive directly from Windows Explorer on Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista with this new preview app available in 106 languages worldwide.
• Fetching files through SkyDrive.com. Easily access, browse, and stream files from a remote PC running the preview app to just about anywhere by simply fetching them via SkyDrive.com.
• SkyDrive storage updates. A new, more flexible approach to personal cloud storage that allows power users to get additional paid storage as their needs grow.  
• SkyDrive for other devices. We’ve updated the SkyDrive apps on Windows Phone and iOS devices, bringing better management features and sharing options to those devices. We’re also releasing a new preview client for Mac OS X Lion, letting you manage your SkyDrive right from the Finder."

Of particular note is that SkyDrive for Windows desktop is only for Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista, notably excluding Windows XP.

Paid Storage

As anticipated, along with the changes to SkyDrive, Microsoft will be providing paid storage.  The cost structure is as follows:

• New SkyDrive users:  7 GB free storage.
• *Existing users:  After opt-in, up to 25 GB free storage
• Additional 20 GB storage:  $10 per year
• Additional 50 GB storage:  $25 per year
• Additional 100 GB storage:  $50 per year

*Existing users applies to SkyDrive accounts as of April 22, 2012.

Limited Time Loyalty Offer - 25 GB Free

In order to upgrade your existing SkyDrive account from 7 GB free storage to 25 GB free storage, log on to your SkyDrive account, https://skydrive.live.com/.  Click "Manage storage" > "Upgrade my storage" to lock in 25 GB for free.

Other than specifying "limited time", I have not seen an indication of when the "Loyalty Offer" expires so I suggest you take advantage of the offer now before it expires.

References

• Building Windows 8:  Making personal cloud storage for Windows available anywhere, with the new SkyDrive
• Limited Time Loyalty Offer

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